U.S. Blacklists Six Oil Tankers in New Venezuela-Related Sanctions

The Trump administration on Tuesday blacklisted six
oil tankers involved in the shipment of Venezuelan oil to Cuba,
the latest in a series of sanctions aimed at pressuring Havana to
abandon its support for socialist Venezuelan President Nicolas
Maduro.

Six vessels belonging to state-run oil company Petróleos de
Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, were targeted, according to a statement
from the U.S. Treasury Department.

"Cuba and the former Maduro regime continue trying to circumvent
sanctions by changing the names of vessels and facilitating the
movement of oil from Venezuela to Cuba," said Treasury Deputy
Secretary Justin Muzinich.

"The United States will continue to take necessary action to
protect the people of Venezuela," he added.

The Treasury Department also identified a vessel named Esperanza
as property of blacklisted Caroil Transport Marine Ltd and said
it was previously designated under the name Nedas.

The United States and more than 50 other countries have
recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the
legitimate president. Guaido invoked the constitution to assume a
rival presidency in January, arguing Maduro's 2018 re-election
was a sham.

But Maduro retains the support of the military, runs the
government's day-to-day operations and is backed by Russia, China
and Cuba.

Under the latest sanctions, Americans are prohibited from
engaging in transactions that involve the blacklisted vessels.